Portland Trail Blazers Receive: G Collin Sexton, F Lauri Markkanen, 2025 First-Round Pick (CLE), 2027 First-Round Pick (CLE)

Cleveland Cavaliers Receive: G Damian Lillard

This would seem like the most obvious way to get Damian Lillard to the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Collin Sexton is due to hit restricted free agency this summer. This deal comes via sign-and-trade. If the Blazers like what they see in Sexton, they could determine this is a good way to start their rebuild.

They might. In 2020-21, Sexton averaged an impressive 24.3 points per game. Injuries robbed him of the opportunity to match that production in 2021-22. Still, his rehab is going well by all accounts. At 23, he’s young enough to be a cornerstone in this Blazer’s rebuild.

At 25, so is Lauri Markkanen. He had a quietly impressive 2021-22 for the Cavs, if for no other reason than he spent most of his time at the 3. While a move to any other team would likely find him back at the 4 or 5, he proved himself a more versatile player than previously given credit for this year.

If the Blazers did decline this deal in spite of wanting to move Lillard, it would be because they wanted more draft capital. Including a third team in the arrangement can alleviate that concern.